🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:
Response:
Calculated Shard: 99 (from laksa117)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:
Response:

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:
Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:
Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄
INDEXABLE
CRAWLED
23 days ago
🚫
ROBOTS BLOCKED

Page Info Filters

FilterStatusConditionDetails
HTTP statusPASSdownload_http_code = 200HTTP 200
Age cutoffPASSdownload_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH0.8 months ago
History dropPASSisNull(history_drop_reason)No drop reason
Spam/banPASSfh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0ml_spam_score=0
CanonicalPASSmeta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsedNot set

Page Details

PropertyValue
URLhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/09/barack-obama-nobel-peace-prize1
Last Crawled2026-03-26 07:38:09 (23 days ago)
First Indexed2017-08-12 20:41:07 (8 years ago)
HTTP Status Code200
Meta TitleBarack Obama 'surprised' and 'humbled' by Nobel peace prize | Barack Obama | The Guardian
Meta Description<p>• US president to donate $1.4m cash award to charity<br />• Scepticism greets announcement in US and internationally</p>
Meta Canonicalnull
Boilerpipe Text
Barack Obama said he was humbled and undeserving. But more than anything the US president was as surprised as most of America, and much of the world, to be woken before the sun was up and told he had won the Nobel Peace prize after just nine months in office and while he is deciding whether to escalate the war in Afghanistan. The Nobel committee said it chose Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" and for creating "a new international climate". "Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the committee said in its citation. "His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population." Obama recognised the immediate scepticism from almost every quarter over the award to a president who was in office less than a fortnight when the deadline passed for nominations and who, critics swiftly noted, has yet to achieve any significant breakthroughs in his attempts to foster Middle East peace or halt Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions while continuing to oversee a major war in Afghanistan. "I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honoured by this prize," the president said. But Obama said he would accept it as a recognition of the struggles of others for peace, and said it must be "shared by everyone who strives for justice and dignity". "I will accept this award as a call to action, a call to all nations, to confront the challenges of the 21st century," he said. Obama will donate to charity the $1.4m (£880,000) cash award that comes with the prize. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said it was likely that more than one charity will benefit, but that the president has yet to decide which charities will share the windfall. Amid the official congratulations from the rest of the world, the prize touched off a verbal war in the US where Republicans said he had failed to achieve anything that justified the award and characterised it as a political statement. The noisy and influential conservative talk show hosts described it as primarily intended as a snub to the former president, George Bush, rather than for any particular achievements by Obama. "This is nonsensical," said radio host, Mike Gallagher, on Fox News. "You guys can't let President Bush go, can you? That's the reason for the Nobel peace prize . [Obama] doesn't act like a cowboy." Obama's Democratic party responded to the attacks by accusing the Republicans of "throwing their lot in with the terrorists - the Taliban and Hamas - in criticizing the president for receiving the Nobel peace prize". The Norwegian Nobel committee rejected assertions that prize was awarded prematurely by pointing to Obama's speech to the Muslim world in Cairo and his attempts to start the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, his emphasis on dialogue over confrontation in international diplomacy and his commitment to nuclear disarmament. "We want to emphasise that he has already brought significant changes," said the committee secretary, Geir Lundestad. "All these things have already taken place and this already has had a very significant impact on international relations." "We do of course hope that there will be many concrete changes over the years. But when a president makes all these changes on these ideals, which are the ideals the Norwegian Nobel committee has had for a hundred years, we felt it was right to strengthen him as much as we can in this further struggle for these ideals." The former UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, described the award as an "unexpected but inspired choice". A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, thought otherwise. "He has not taken a single step for peace in Afghanistan or to make this country stable ... We condemn this year's peace prize as unjust," he said. The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said he was "not upset" by the award. It remains to be seen whether the prize will indeed strengthen Obama's hand or put him on the back foot in the US where there is acute sensitivity to perceived weakness in international affairs. The citation's assertion that Obama's diplomacy reflects "values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population" riled conservatives who view the US president's role as to stand up to hostile and untrustworthy foreigners. The award comes as Obama is under pressure from US military leaders to pour tens of thousands more troops in to Afghanistan and from national security advisers to shift the conflict to pursuing al-Qaida in Pakistan. Thorbjørn Jagland, chairman of the prize committee, said that does not detract from the award. "The situation in Afghanistan is very difficult, but we cannot look away from all the other positive things he [Obama] is trying to do," he said. "It's a conflict that concerns us all. It's not tricky with regards to the Nobel peace prize." The award also mystified many liberals who have become increasingly critical of Obama for failing to press ahead swiftly enough on commitments to close Guantánamo Bay and domestic issues such as on recognition of gay rights. Obama is only the third sitting president to win the prize, with the others awarded to Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson in 1919. Former president Jimmy Carter won the prize in 2002 for his "untiring efforts" to end conflicts. The former vice president, Al Gore, won two years ago along with the United Nations climate panel. Among the other Americans who have won the peace prize is the former secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, who has been accused by critics of committing war crimes over the US bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam war.
Markdown
![](https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=6035250&cv=2.0&cj=1&cs_ucfr=0&comscorekw=us-news) [Skip to main content](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/09/barack-obama-nobel-peace-prize1#maincontent)[Skip to navigation](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/09/barack-obama-nobel-peace-prize1#navigation) [Skip to navigation](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/09/barack-obama-nobel-peace-prize1#navigation) [Print subscriptions](https://support.theguardian.com/subscribe/weekly?REFPVID=mn75ujtwh26z6c7s9boh&INTCMP=undefined&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22PrintSubscriptionsHeaderLink%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22referrerPageviewId%22%3A%22mn75ujtwh26z6c7s9boh%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2009%2Foct%2F09%2Fbarack-obama-nobel-peace-prize1%22%7D) [Search jobs](https://jobs.theguardian.com/) [Sign in](https://profile.theguardian.com/signin?INTCMP=DOTCOM_NEWHEADER_SIGNIN&ABCMP=ab-sign-in&componentEventParams=componentType%3Didentityauthentication%26componentId%3Dguardian_signin_header) Eur - [Europe edition](https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/eur) - [UK edition](https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/uk) - [US edition](https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/us) - [Australia edition](https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/au) - [International edition](https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/int) [The Guardian - Back to homeThe Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/) - [News](https://www.theguardian.com/) - [Opinion](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) - [Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/sport) - [Culture](https://www.theguardian.com/culture) - [Lifestyle](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) Show more Hide expanded menu - News - [View all News](https://www.theguardian.com/) - [World news](https://www.theguardian.com/world) - [UK news](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news) - [Climate crisis](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis) - [Ukraine](https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine) - [Environment](https://www.theguardian.com/environment) - [Science](https://www.theguardian.com/science) - [Global development](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development) - [Football](https://www.theguardian.com/football) - [Tech](https://www.theguardian.com/technology) - [Business](https://www.theguardian.com/business) - [Obituaries](https://www.theguardian.com/obituaries) - Opinion - [View all Opinion](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) - [The Guardian view](https://www.theguardian.com/profile/editorial) - [Columnists](https://www.theguardian.com/index/contributors) - [Cartoons](https://www.theguardian.com/tone/cartoons) - [Opinion videos](https://www.theguardian.com/type/video+tone/comment) - [Letters](https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters) - Sport - [View all Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/sport) - [Football](https://www.theguardian.com/football) - [Cricket](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/cricket) - [Rugby union](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/rugby-union) - [Tennis](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/tennis) - [Cycling](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/cycling) - [F1](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/formulaone) - [Golf](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/golf) - [US sports](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/us-sport) - Culture - [View all Culture](https://www.theguardian.com/culture) - [Books](https://www.theguardian.com/books) - [Music](https://www.theguardian.com/music) - [TV & radio](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio) - [Art & design](https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign) - [Film](https://www.theguardian.com/film) - [Games](https://www.theguardian.com/games) - [Classical](https://www.theguardian.com/music/classicalmusicandopera) - [Stage](https://www.theguardian.com/stage) - Lifestyle - [View all Lifestyle](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) - [Fashion](https://www.theguardian.com/fashion) - [Food](https://www.theguardian.com/food) - [Recipes](https://www.theguardian.com/tone/recipes) - [Love & sex](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/love-and-sex) - [Health & fitness](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/health-and-wellbeing) - [Home & garden](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/home-and-garden) - [Women](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/women) - [Men](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/men) - [Family](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/family) - [Travel](https://www.theguardian.com/travel) - [Money](https://www.theguardian.com/money) - [Support us](https://support.theguardian.com/?INTCMP=side_menu_support&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22:%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22,%22componentType%22:%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22,%22componentId%22:%22side_menu_support%22%7D) - [Print subscriptions](https://support.theguardian.com/subscribe/weekly?REFPVID=mn75ujtwh26z6c7s9boh&INTCMP=undefined&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22PrintSubscriptionsHeaderLink%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22referrerPageviewId%22%3A%22mn75ujtwh26z6c7s9boh%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2009%2Foct%2F09%2Fbarack-obama-nobel-peace-prize1%22%7D) - - [Search jobs](https://jobs.theguardian.com/) - [Holidays](https://holidays.theguardian.com/?INTCMP=holidays_int_web_newheader) - [Digital Archive](https://theguardian.newspapers.com/) - [Guardian Licensing](https://licensing.theguardian.com/) - [Live events](https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-live-events?INTCMP=live_eur_header_dropdown) - [About Us](https://www.theguardian.com/about) - [The Guardian app](https://app.adjust.com/16xt6hai) - [Video](https://www.theguardian.com/video) - [Podcasts](https://www.theguardian.com/podcasts) - [Pictures](https://www.theguardian.com/inpictures) - [Newsletters](https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) - [Today's paper](https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian) - [Inside the Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/insidetheguardian) - [Guardian Weekly](https://www.theguardian.com/weekly?INTCMP=gdnwb_mawns_editorial_gweekly_GW_TopNav_Int) - [Crosswords](https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords) - [Wordiply](https://www.wordiply.com/) - [Corrections](https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/series/corrections-and-clarifications) - [Tips](https://www.theguardian.com/tips) - - [Search jobs](https://jobs.theguardian.com/) - [Holidays](https://holidays.theguardian.com/?INTCMP=holidays_int_web_newheader) - [Digital Archive](https://theguardian.newspapers.com/) - [Guardian Licensing](https://licensing.theguardian.com/) - [Live events](https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-live-events?INTCMP=live_eur_header_dropdown) - [About Us](https://www.theguardian.com/about) - [World](https://www.theguardian.com/world) - [Europe](https://www.theguardian.com/world/europe-news) - [US news](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news) - [Americas](https://www.theguardian.com/world/americas) - [Asia](https://www.theguardian.com/world/asia) - [Australia](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news) - [Middle East](https://www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast) - [Africa](https://www.theguardian.com/world/africa) - [Inequality](https://www.theguardian.com/inequality) - [Global development](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development) [Barack Obama](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/barack-obama) This article is more than **16 years old** # Barack Obama 'surprised' and 'humbled' by Nobel peace prize This article is more than 16 years old US president to donate \$1.4m cash award to charity Scepticism greets announcement in US and internationally [Chris McGreal](https://www.theguardian.com/profile/chrismcgreal) in Washington and [Gwladys Fouché](https://www.theguardian.com/profile/gwladysfouche) in Oslo Fri 9 Oct 2009 20.49 CEST Share [Prefer the Guardian on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=theguardian.com) Barack Obama said he was humbled and undeserving. But more than anything the US president was as surprised as most of America, and much of the world, to be woken before the sun was up and told he had won the Nobel Peace prize after just nine months in office and while he is deciding whether to escalate the war in Afghanistan. The Nobel committee said it chose Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" and for creating "a new international climate". "Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the committee said in its citation. "His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population." Obama recognised the immediate scepticism from almost every quarter over the award to a president who was in office less than a fortnight when the deadline passed for nominations and who, critics swiftly noted, has yet to achieve any significant breakthroughs in his attempts to foster Middle East peace or halt Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions while continuing to oversee a major war in Afghanistan. "I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honoured by this prize," the president said. But Obama said he would accept it as a recognition of the struggles of others for peace, and said it must be "shared by everyone who strives for justice and dignity". "I will accept this award as a call to action, a call to all nations, to confront the challenges of the 21st century," he said. Obama will donate to charity the \$1.4m (£880,000) cash award that comes with the prize. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said it was likely that more than one charity will benefit, but that the president has yet to decide which charities will share the windfall. Amid the official congratulations from the rest of the world, the prize touched off a verbal war in the US where Republicans said he had failed to achieve anything that justified the award and characterised it as a political statement. The noisy and influential conservative talk show hosts described it as primarily intended as a snub to the former president, George Bush, rather than for any particular achievements by Obama. "This is nonsensical," said radio host, Mike Gallagher, on Fox News. "You guys can't let President Bush go, can you? That's the reason for the [Nobel peace prize](https://www.theguardian.com/world/nobelpeaceprize). \[Obama\] doesn't act like a cowboy." Obama's Democratic party responded to the attacks by accusing the Republicans of "throwing their lot in with the terrorists - the Taliban and Hamas - in criticizing the president for receiving the Nobel peace prize". The Norwegian Nobel committee rejected assertions that prize was awarded prematurely by pointing to Obama's speech to the Muslim world in Cairo and his attempts to start the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, his emphasis on dialogue over confrontation in international diplomacy and his commitment to nuclear disarmament. "We want to emphasise that he has already brought significant changes," said the committee secretary, Geir Lundestad. "All these things have already taken place and this already has had a very significant impact on international relations." "We do of course hope that there will be many concrete changes over the years. But when a president makes all these changes on these ideals, which are the ideals the Norwegian Nobel committee has had for a hundred years, we felt it was right to strengthen him as much as we can in this further struggle for these ideals." The former UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, described the award as an "unexpected but inspired choice". A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, thought otherwise. "He has not taken a single step for peace in Afghanistan or to make this country stable ... We condemn this year's peace prize as unjust," he said. The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said he was "not upset" by the award. It remains to be seen whether the prize will indeed strengthen Obama's hand or put him on the back foot in the US where there is acute sensitivity to perceived weakness in international affairs. The citation's assertion that Obama's diplomacy reflects "values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population" riled conservatives who view the US president's role as to stand up to hostile and untrustworthy foreigners. The award comes as Obama is under pressure from US military leaders to pour tens of thousands more troops in to Afghanistan and from national security advisers to shift the conflict to pursuing al-Qaida in Pakistan. Thorbjørn Jagland, chairman of the prize committee, said that does not detract from the award. "The situation in Afghanistan is very difficult, but we cannot look away from all the other positive things he \[Obama\] is trying to do," he said. "It's a conflict that concerns us all. It's not tricky with regards to the Nobel peace prize." The award also mystified many liberals who have become increasingly critical of Obama for failing to press ahead swiftly enough on commitments to close Guantánamo Bay and domestic issues such as on recognition of gay rights. Obama is only the third sitting president to win the prize, with the others awarded to Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson in 1919. Former president Jimmy Carter won the prize in 2002 for his "untiring efforts" to end conflicts. The former vice president, Al Gore, won two years ago along with the United Nations climate panel. Among the other Americans who have won the peace prize is the former secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, who has been accused by critics of committing war crimes over the US bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam war. Explore more on these topics - [Barack Obama](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/barack-obama) - [Nobel peace prize](https://www.theguardian.com/world/nobelpeaceprize) - [US politics](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-politics) - [news](https://www.theguardian.com/tone/news) Share [Reuse this content](https://syndication.theguardian.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2009%2Foct%2F09%2Fbarack-obama-nobel-peace-prize1&type=article&internalpagecode=world/2009/oct/09/barack-obama-nobel-peace-prize1 "Reuse this content") ### Most viewed - [![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/561596e80905bd00a670e5471ebe1e418c06f817/360_0_3853_3084/master/3853.jpg?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none) Iran rejects US ceasefire plan and submits its own amid push for talks](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/25/iran-gives-negative-response-to-us-ceasefire-plan-amid-push-for-talks) - [![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ba37fc00bd3eaeb83fcd22e5d935c1c4dfdf6ba8/78_0_3333_2667/master/3333.jpg?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none) Strike on alleged drug vessel kills four in the Caribbean, US military says](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/latest-caribbean-strike-boat-four-killed) - [![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/fb2df160ef97d6d7230b444bf423779f87cd706e/393_0_4161_3329/master/4161.jpg?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none) Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says US has linked security guarantees to ceding of Donbas](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/26/ukraine-war-briefing-zelenskyy-says-us-has-linked-security-guarantees-to-ceding-of-donbas) - [![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f31e0a3f3aea8935d97b509a94345ea36df60ecc/998_0_5002_4002/master/5002.jpg?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none) Meloni’s referendum defeat shows the cost of the Trump factorRiccardo Alcaro](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/26/meloni-referendum-defeat-cost-trump-factor) - [![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/250735a22aba3486ae2ffaafd192279beae5666a/139_0_6797_5439/master/6797.jpg?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none) Democratic rising star extends ‘love’ after Hegseth pastor prays for his death](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/james-talarico-pete-hegseth-pastor) ## Related stories ## Related stories - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/12/10/1260434108578/President-Barack-Obama-la-001.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### Humble Obama accepts Nobel prize 10 Dec 2009 - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/12/10/1260452432722/Barack-Obama-001.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### Barack Obama Nobel peace prize acceptance speech 10 Dec 2009 - ### Barack Obama's Nobel peace prize – latest news 10 Dec 2009 [86 86 comments](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/dec/10/obama-nobel-peace-prize-norway#comments) - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/12/10/1260445527005/Nobel-Peace-Prize-laureat-003.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### Barack Obama receives the Nobel peace prize in Oslo 10 Dec 2009 - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2009/10/9/1255102761542/US-President-Obama--001.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### Nobel committee defends Obama peace prize 14 Oct 2009 [14 14 comments](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/14/nobel-jury-defends-obama-peace#comments) - ### Nobel peace prize: A call to action 10 Oct 2009 [66 66 comments](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/oct/10/nobel-peace-prize-barack-obama#comments) - ### Nobel peace prize awarded to Barack Obama 9 Oct 2009 - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b29f9ac29b89ab5929632673faeaaed304bc3525/0_283_4256_2555/master/4256.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### Nobel peace prize awarded to Barack Obama 9 Oct 2009 ## More from News ## More from News - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/58ad33e1c3b599f829cceb0bd943b1dc6e8baad8/325_0_6830_5464/master/6830.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### Social mediaMeta and YouTube designed addictive products that harmed young people, US jury finds 12h ago - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e5ec5f9d638e8292c485f1d3fdc756754c51ff09/2042_127_1968_1574/master/1968.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### ItalyItaly’s tourism minister resigns amid turmoil from referendum failure 13h ago - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/fb2df160ef97d6d7230b444bf423779f87cd706e/393_0_4161_3329/master/4161.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### Russia-Ukraine warZelenskyy says US has linked security guarantees to ceding of Donbas 47m ago - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af8b3f4f5442a82a232a3a54988185ea1b63819d/277_194_1741_1392/master/1741.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### Royal NavyUK armed forces authorised to board Russian tankers in British waters 9h ago - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cf0aef8a0753f2e68fe7712e1a0c5bbcb91bf85e/705_0_6044_4836/master/6044.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### CultureMinisters consider charging tourists to access UK national museum collections 8h ago - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/02da4a6813599b38b28534af973c36037f59dde3/406_0_5200_4162/master/5200.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### North KoreaNorth Korea and Belarus sign ‘friendship and cooperation’ treaty 49m ago - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f477d54179243ad5b349c70fbb5815d27ffa8d84/0_86_6520_5216/master/6520.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### Cotton CapitalPepys ‘curated’ letters to conceal being offered enslaved boy as bribe – research 37m ago - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/250735a22aba3486ae2ffaafd192279beae5666a/139_0_6797_5439/master/6797.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### TexasDemocratic rising star extends ‘love’ after Hegseth pastor prays for his death 13h ago - ![](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/595db7c488e62ded77ab5a73f1bcb63bd9265854/39_0_2661_2129/master/2661.jpg?width=220&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4) ### NetherlandsSkeleton of Three Musketeers hero d’Artagnan may have been found 16h ago ## Most viewed ## Most viewed - [Most viewed Across the Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/09/tabs-popular-0) - [Most viewed in US news](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/09/tabs-popular-1) ### Most viewed Across the\&nbsp;Guardian 1. [Democratic rising star extends ‘love’ after Hegseth pastor prays for his death](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/james-talarico-pete-hegseth-pastor) 2. [LiveMiddle East crisis live: Trump insists Iran wants a deal despite initial rejection; China sees ‘glimmer of hope’ for talks](https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/mar/26/iran-war-live-updates-trump-deal-us-military-strikes-israel-lebanon-hezbollah) 3. [The Pitt review – ER fans have been waiting for a brilliant show like this](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/mar/26/the-pitt-review-er-fans-have-been-waiting-for-a-brilliant-show-like-this) 4. [Gulf states’ scepticism over alleged US-Iran talks signals a distrust of Trump](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/26/gulf-states-scepticism-over-alleged-us-iran-talks-signals-a-distrust-of-trump) 5. [AI got the blame for the Iran school bombing. The truth is far more worrying](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/mar/26/ai-got-the-blame-for-the-iran-school-bombing-the-truth-is-far-more-worrying) 6. [Meta and YouTube designed addictive products that harmed young people, jury finds](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/mar/25/jury-verdict-us-first-social-media-addiction-trial-meta-youtube) 7. [Italy’s tourism minister resigns amid turmoil from referendum failure](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/25/italy-tourism-minister-daniela-santanche-resigns) 8. [Skeleton of Three Musketeers hero d’Artagnan may have been found](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/25/skeleton-three-musketeers-dartagnan-alexandre-dumas) 9. [Backlash mounts over twist in Robert Pattinson Zendaya romcom The Drama](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/mar/25/the-twist-in-robert-pattinson-zendaya-romcom-the-drama) 10. [Trump’s peace plan falls flat as he insists the war is almost over while increasing troop numbers](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/trump-iran-war-analysis) ### Most viewed in US news 1. [Democratic rising star extends ‘love’ after Hegseth pastor prays for his death](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/james-talarico-pete-hegseth-pastor) 2. [Trump’s peace plan falls flat as he insists the war is almost over while increasing troop numbers](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/trump-iran-war-analysis) 3. [US army raises upper age for recruits to 42 and scraps marijuana restrictions](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/army-max-enlistment-marijuana-restrictions) 4. [Strike on alleged drug vessel kills four in the Caribbean, US military says](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/latest-caribbean-strike-boat-four-killed) 5. [TSA tipped off ICE in arrest of mother and child at San Francisco airport](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/tsa-tip-off-ice-san-francisco-airport) 6. [Trump housing chief requests new criminal investigation into Letitia James](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/trump-letitia-james-mortgage-fraud-investigation-referral) 7. [Trump news at a glance: administration official warns of ‘dire situation’ at US airports ahead of World Cup](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/trump-news-at-a-glance-airports-world-cup) 8. [Democrats shut down DHS funding deal from Republicans as standoff continues](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/25/senate-republicans-bill-iran-war-dhs-shutdown) 9. [US quadruple amputee cornhole champion arrested on suspicion of murder](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/24/amputee-cornhole-player-arrested) 10. [Trump’s trip to meet Xi Jinping in China rescheduled for May due to Iran war](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/26/trump-xi-jinping-china-trip-rescheduled-may) - [World](https://www.theguardian.com/world) - [Europe](https://www.theguardian.com/world/europe-news) - [US news](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news) - [Americas](https://www.theguardian.com/world/americas) - [Asia](https://www.theguardian.com/world/asia) - [Australia](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news) - [Middle East](https://www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast) - [Africa](https://www.theguardian.com/world/africa) - [Inequality](https://www.theguardian.com/inequality) - [Global development](https://www.theguardian.com/global-development) - [News](https://www.theguardian.com/) - [Opinion](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) - [Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/sport) - [Culture](https://www.theguardian.com/culture) - [Lifestyle](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning [Sign up for our email](https://www.theguardian.com/global/2022/sep/20/sign-up-for-the-first-edition-newsletter-our-free-news-email) - [About us](https://www.theguardian.com/about) - [Help](https://manage.theguardian.com/help-centre) - [Complaints & corrections](https://www.theguardian.com/info/complaints-and-corrections) - [Contact us](https://www.theguardian.com/help/contact-us) - [Tip us off](https://www.theguardian.com/tips) - [SecureDrop](https://www.theguardian.com/securedrop) - [Privacy policy](https://www.theguardian.com/info/privacy) - [Cookie policy](https://www.theguardian.com/info/cookies) - [Tax strategy](https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2025/09/05/Tax_strategy_for_the_year_ended_31_March_2025.pdf) - [Terms & conditions](https://www.theguardian.com/help/terms-of-service) - [All topics](https://www.theguardian.com/index/subjects/a) - [All writers](https://www.theguardian.com/index/contributors) - [Newsletters](https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?INTCMP=DOTCOM_FOOTER_NEWSLETTER_EUROPE) - [Digital newspaper archive](https://theguardian.newspapers.com/) - [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/theguardian.com) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/theguardian) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/guardian) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/theguardian) - [Threads](https://www.threads.com/@guardian) - [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@guardian) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGuardian) - [Advertise with us](https://advertising.theguardian.com/) - [Search UK jobs](https://jobs.theguardian.com/) - [Tips](https://www.theguardian.com/tips) - [Accessibility settings](https://www.theguardian.com/help/accessibility-help) - [Work with us](https://workwithus.theguardian.com/) Support the Guardian Available for everyone, funded by readers [Support us](https://support.theguardian.com/?INTCMP=footer_support&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22:%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22,%22componentType%22:%22ACQUISITIONS_FOOTER%22,%22componentId%22:%22footer_support%22%7D) [Back to top](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/09/barack-obama-nobel-peace-prize1#top) © 2026 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. (dcr)
Readable Markdown
Barack Obama said he was humbled and undeserving. But more than anything the US president was as surprised as most of America, and much of the world, to be woken before the sun was up and told he had won the Nobel Peace prize after just nine months in office and while he is deciding whether to escalate the war in Afghanistan. The Nobel committee said it chose Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" and for creating "a new international climate". "Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the committee said in its citation. "His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population." Obama recognised the immediate scepticism from almost every quarter over the award to a president who was in office less than a fortnight when the deadline passed for nominations and who, critics swiftly noted, has yet to achieve any significant breakthroughs in his attempts to foster Middle East peace or halt Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions while continuing to oversee a major war in Afghanistan. "I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honoured by this prize," the president said. But Obama said he would accept it as a recognition of the struggles of others for peace, and said it must be "shared by everyone who strives for justice and dignity". "I will accept this award as a call to action, a call to all nations, to confront the challenges of the 21st century," he said. Obama will donate to charity the \$1.4m (£880,000) cash award that comes with the prize. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said it was likely that more than one charity will benefit, but that the president has yet to decide which charities will share the windfall. Amid the official congratulations from the rest of the world, the prize touched off a verbal war in the US where Republicans said he had failed to achieve anything that justified the award and characterised it as a political statement. The noisy and influential conservative talk show hosts described it as primarily intended as a snub to the former president, George Bush, rather than for any particular achievements by Obama. "This is nonsensical," said radio host, Mike Gallagher, on Fox News. "You guys can't let President Bush go, can you? That's the reason for the [Nobel peace prize](https://www.theguardian.com/world/nobelpeaceprize). \[Obama\] doesn't act like a cowboy." Obama's Democratic party responded to the attacks by accusing the Republicans of "throwing their lot in with the terrorists - the Taliban and Hamas - in criticizing the president for receiving the Nobel peace prize". The Norwegian Nobel committee rejected assertions that prize was awarded prematurely by pointing to Obama's speech to the Muslim world in Cairo and his attempts to start the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, his emphasis on dialogue over confrontation in international diplomacy and his commitment to nuclear disarmament. "We want to emphasise that he has already brought significant changes," said the committee secretary, Geir Lundestad. "All these things have already taken place and this already has had a very significant impact on international relations." "We do of course hope that there will be many concrete changes over the years. But when a president makes all these changes on these ideals, which are the ideals the Norwegian Nobel committee has had for a hundred years, we felt it was right to strengthen him as much as we can in this further struggle for these ideals." The former UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, described the award as an "unexpected but inspired choice". A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, thought otherwise. "He has not taken a single step for peace in Afghanistan or to make this country stable ... We condemn this year's peace prize as unjust," he said. The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said he was "not upset" by the award. It remains to be seen whether the prize will indeed strengthen Obama's hand or put him on the back foot in the US where there is acute sensitivity to perceived weakness in international affairs. The citation's assertion that Obama's diplomacy reflects "values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population" riled conservatives who view the US president's role as to stand up to hostile and untrustworthy foreigners. The award comes as Obama is under pressure from US military leaders to pour tens of thousands more troops in to Afghanistan and from national security advisers to shift the conflict to pursuing al-Qaida in Pakistan. Thorbjørn Jagland, chairman of the prize committee, said that does not detract from the award. "The situation in Afghanistan is very difficult, but we cannot look away from all the other positive things he \[Obama\] is trying to do," he said. "It's a conflict that concerns us all. It's not tricky with regards to the Nobel peace prize." The award also mystified many liberals who have become increasingly critical of Obama for failing to press ahead swiftly enough on commitments to close Guantánamo Bay and domestic issues such as on recognition of gay rights. Obama is only the third sitting president to win the prize, with the others awarded to Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson in 1919. Former president Jimmy Carter won the prize in 2002 for his "untiring efforts" to end conflicts. The former vice president, Al Gore, won two years ago along with the United Nations climate panel. Among the other Americans who have won the peace prize is the former secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, who has been accused by critics of committing war crimes over the US bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam war.
Shard99 (laksa)
Root Hash4161074618625082499
Unparsed URLcom,theguardian!www,/world/2009/oct/09/barack-obama-nobel-peace-prize1 s443